Publisher's Synopsis
Massimiliano "Max" Cortese, an art restorer, is hired by a client to authenticate a painting seized from a Jewish family during WWII. His goal is to prove it's a forgery, but he finds clues that point to its authenticity despite his initial skepticism. Max meets J.J., the original owner's great-grandson, and they become lovers. However, Max also must fend off the advances of Yves, a charming thief. In Brussels, Max uncovers details about the painting's history after finding the former owners, the Rosenbergs. Undercover French police follow him, but Lefèvre secretly watches over him and saves him when he is attacked. During their search for evidence, Max and Lefèvre give in to their passions and have sex in an abandoned seaside villa. They narrowly avoid the guards and find no new information about the painting but leave with a stronger bond. Max eventually finds long-lost records in a hidden underground bunker that authenticate the painting's disputed origins. In Paris, Max prepares for the climactic auction reveal by gathering final proof of the authenticity of the painting. The auction erupts into chaos, but Max ultimately succeeds in definitively proving the authenticity and disputed origins of the painting, returning it to its rightful Jewish owners. After the successful auction reveal, he finds professional success and romantic love with Lefèvre. The story is fast paced, with Max racing against time and threats to uncover the painting's past and prove its authenticity.
